Cha & Nasta
A family-run Bangladeshi café
Come and find us
"Bed cha, breakfast cha, lunch cha, then 4:00pm cha, dinner cha, and before bed cha."
Haldi Latte £3.95 · Ada Cha £3.95 · Ghur Coffee £4.95 · Badam Latte £4.95 · Kola Latte £4.95 · Shordi Kashi Shot £3.55
Espresso £2.60 · Americano £3.00 · Flat White £3.40 · Cappuccino £3.40 · Latte £3.40 · Mocha £3.90 · Iced Latte £3.50 · Spanish Latte £4.95
Aam Lassi £5.50 · Kezoor Lassi £5.50 · Smoothies £5.95
Dawat Club
Dawat is more than a dinner — it's the kind of gathering that fills you up properly. Food flowing, new flavours to try, plates passed around the table, conversations that turn into laughter. Come for the ambience, stay for the people, leave feeling full in more ways than one.
A recurring series, seated by enquiry. Leave your details and we'll be in touch with the next date.
Private hire, parties & catering.
We close to the public on Sundays and give the whole café over to you — birthdays, gatherings, and get-togethers in the covered garden. We also cater beyond the café. Tell us what you're planning and we'll build it around you.
What does our name mean?
There's a simple translation: tea and snacks (often understood as breakfast, tea, and light refreshments).
Cha-Nasta is a common Bangladeshi expression used when offering guests something to eat and drink.
In Bangladeshi culture, offering cha-nasta is a warm gesture of hospitality, bringing people together over tea, conversation, and good food.
A small note: technically, cha means tea and nasta means a light meal, snack, or breakfast. So "tea and snacks" is the most accurate short translation.
About us
Cha & Nasta was founded in 2020 by brother and sister duo Abdul and Sam, who opened their doors in June with a simple vision: to share the flavours, traditions, and memories that have been passed down through generations of their family.
At the heart of our menu are cherished family recipes, lovingly handed down from one generation to the next. Every dish tells a story, inspired by childhood memories, family gatherings, and the people and places that have shaped who we are. Some recipes bring back memories of home, while others celebrate the rich culinary heritage of Bangladesh.
Our menu offers a little bit of everything — from traditional favourites to unique creations that reflect our journey between cultures. You'll find authentic dishes steeped in tradition alongside East-meets-West favourites, such as our Sylheti Aloo Sandwich, inspired by our father's love for a good potato sandwich.
Whether you're discovering these flavours for the first time or reconnecting with familiar tastes from home, we're delighted to share our family's table with you. At Cha & Nasta, every dish is served with the warmth, care, and hospitality that inspired us to open our doors in the first place. We look forward to welcoming you, sharing our stories, and creating new memories together —
one cup of tea and one plate of food at a time.
The artwork
The artwork on our door and side wall was created by Tayiba — @intheknowart.
Parking
A 2–3 minute walk straight to our doors.
Open in MapsAcross 400 Google reviews
Read all on Google"My partner and I have been coming to Cha & Nasta since we moved to St Albans 4 years ago. Serving authentic, incredibly delicious and soulful Bangladeshi food, we love taking our friends and family here. Our favourites have got to be the kathi rolls, tamarind fries, chaats, and mango lassis - but every dish we have eaten here has been sensational. It is a family-run business, and that really comes through in the food and the atmosphere, it really feels like home to us. Their hospitality is second to none."
"Absolutely wonderful place to stop for a light lunch and cup of cha. We found the service was warm and welcoming, the atmosphere and garden seating is beautiful, I felt like I had been invited into a family home to eat. The food tasted incredible... This place is honestly a hidden gem."
